View
237
Download
2
Category
Tags:
Preview:
DESCRIPTION
MIM Intensification_0201_new
Citation preview
e-ifc No. 28, September 2011 8
Potash Institute (IPI). The project was
initiated in response to the Abuja
Declaration on Fertilizer for an African
Green Revolution that commits
governments in SSA to increase
fertilizer use to an average of 50 kg ha-1.
At the Africa Fertilizer Summit (Abuja,
Nigeria, 13 June 2006, see link),
delegates agreed that fertilizer is crucial
for achieving an African Green
Revolution in the face of a rapidly rising
population and declining soil fertility. In
response to the Abuja Declaration, the
New Partnership for Africa‟s
Development (NEPAD) has declared
that the vision of economic development
in Africa must be based on raising and
sustaining higher rates of economic
growth (seven percent per year). To
realize this vision, African Heads of
States and Governments adopted the
Comprehensive Africa Agricultural
Development Program (CAADP), which
calls for six percent annual growth in
agricultural production, as a framework
for the restoration of agricultural
growth, food security and rural
development in Africa.
Research Findings
Maize Intensification in
Mozambique: Demonstra-
ting to Farmers the
Benefits of Better Land
and Crop Management
Goujard, O.(1), M. van den Berg(2),
P. Heffer(3), and S. Zingore(4).
Introduction
Mozambique is a developing country
which, until the beginning of the 90s,
suffered greatly from a protracted civil
war. Eighty to ninety percent of its
population is involved in agriculture;
most of the farmers are subsistence
smallholders cultivating less than three
hectares. The most important cultivated
crops are maize, cassava and legumes,
the main staple foods. Productivity
remains very low with an average maize
yield of less of than 1.0 metric ton per
hectare (mt ha-1) cultivated. Agro-input
markets are particularly undeveloped
and the majority of smallholder farmers
are not well connected to the output
market and value chain. Fertilizer use in
sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is very low;
on average, 8.0 kilograms per hectare
(kg ha-1), or less than 10 percent of the
world average. For Mozambique
specifically, fertilizer use is, on average,
around 6 kg ha-1.
The Maize Intensification in
Mozambique project (MIM) began in
September 2008 and is being
implemented by the International
Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC).
The MIM project is funded and receives
technical support from the International
Fertilizer Industries Association (IFA),
the International Plant Nutrition
Institute (IPNI), and the International
Project goal
The project aims to demonstrate how
farmers can intensify rain-fed maize
production.
Project objectives
1) To increase maize yields and
nutritional value of the crop through
increased and balanced use of fertilizer
and improved seed varieties.
2) To increase the income and improve
livelihoods of smallholder farmers in
rural areas through improved
purchasing power and enhanced access
to input and output markets.
The project is implementing a complete
value chain approach to achieve the
goals of increasing maize productivity
and profitability covering the following
activities:
Increasing farmer adoption of
improved maize seed varieties. In
Mozambique, traditional (i.e. farmer-
saved seed) open pollinated varieties
of maize, which have low
productivity potential and low
response to fertilizer application, are
Optimizing Crop Nutrition
(1)IPI Coordinator for sub-Saharan Africa,
olivier.goujard@kalifrance.com.
(2)IFDC former COP, Mozambique
(3)IFA, Director Agriculture,
PHEFFER@fertilizer.org
(4)IPNI, Regional Director Africa,
SZingore@ipni.net
Farmers from the association “7 de Abril - Zembe” in front of their demonstration field.
Photo by O. Goujard.
e-ifc No. 28, September 2011 9
Research Findings
used extensively. The project aims to
demonstrate how farmers can
improve their maize yield through
the use of improved seed such as
Sussuma, Matuba, and hybrids such
as PAN67.
Increasing the adoption of use of
fertilizer. Increasing fertilizer use
from the current 6 kg ha-1 is required
to increase maize yields in a
sustainable manner. The project aims
to demonstrate how farmers can
improve their yield through
increasing the use of appropriate
fertilizers, conservation agriculture,
use of sound agronomic practices and
other inputs (e.g. seeds). The project
is also facilitating the market linkage
between farmers and input suppliers
to ensure they have easy and timely
access to fertilizer and improved seed
varieties.
Facilitating the market linkage
between farmers and agricultural
commodities buyers. By achieving
this, farmers will have access to
viable maize markets, allowing them
to sell their produce at profitable
prices and improve their capacity to
purchase inputs.
Expected outputs and impact
1) About 250 smallholder farmers (five
clusters of 50 smallholder farmers) to
benefit directly from increased yields
and incomes in the project‟s areas.
In addition, wider dissemination of
market-oriented agricultural intensifi-
cation technologies to at least 5,000
smallholder farmers will be facilitated
through field days and extension
material.
2) Maize yield to increase by 50 percent
above the baseline yield in each project
area.
3) Fifty agro-dealers to be trained in
input and output marketing with each
agro-dealer being able to increase the
supply of inputs and technology transfer
to 500 farmers, enabling increased
production for 25,000 farmers.
4) Producer groups to be established
and linked with input and output
markets.
5) Incomes of the 250 farmers
participating directly in the project area
to increase by 20 percent above
baseline incomes in the project area.
6) Establishment and dissemination of
improved fertilizer recommendations
utilizing soil testing and Nutrient
Management Support System
(NuMaSS) for maize production in each
of the project implementation zones.
7) A soil fertility management plan
(Integrated Soil Fertility Management;
Site Specific Nutrient Management;
ISFM/SSNM) and Integrated Pest
Management (IPM) plan for maize-
based cropping systems (monoculture,
mixed cropping, intercropping, and crop
rotation with maize) to be prepared for
project areas at the beginning of each
cropping season.
Project sites
The MIM project is being implemented
in productive clusters in Sofala, Manica
and Tete provinces within the Beira
Corridor (see map).
In 2008, five sites involving different
farmers‟ associations were chosen for
demonstration trials, which were then
Optimizing Crop Nutrition
Map of Mozambique with a focus on the Beira corridor, central Mozambique (marked by the circle).
Source: http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/map/mozambique_map.htm.
CaboDelgado
Niassa
Nampula
Zambezia
Tete
Sofala
Manica
InhambraneGaza
Source: http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/map/mozambique_map.htm
e-ifc No. 28, September 2011 10
Research Findings
summarises the changes in studied
factors during the three years of the
project as the project narrowed down on
best management practices. The Open
Pollinated Variety (OPV) that was
initially part of the demonstrations was
discontinued after the first year, as
results confirmed their poor
performance. It was also decided to
keep only the basal fertilizer that gave
the greatest yield increases (NPK+S)
but with reduced fertilizer application
rate from 300 to 100 kg ha-1 (2 bags)
and 50 kg ha-1 (1 bag) to use rates that
are more affordable to farmers.
Likewise the urea dose was reduced
from 150 to 100 kg ha-1. Cons. tillage
(with application of the herbicide
glyphosate before planting) was
included to compare with Conv. tillage
(manual or animal traction), each site
being divided into two parts.
Table 3 presents the current
demonstration design agreed by the
project partners, this protocol being
duplicated at each site with one part in
conservation tillage and one part in
conventional tillage.
Each demonstration field was the same
size of 1.3 ha (130 m x 102 m). The
field was divided into two equal parts;
with one part cultivated using
conventional tillage and the other with
conservation tillage. Each of the two
plots was further divided into six plots
of 0.1 ha (50 m x 20 m) corresponding
to six treatments. All plots were
separated by a 2 m buffer zone.
Demonstrations were implemented at
the beginning of the rainy season
(November) with land preparation and
sowing being done in December; maize
maturity and harvest occurs from April
to June, depending on local weather
conditions during the growing season.
Planting
The maize hybrid seed selected for
testing was PAN67, the most commonly
grown hybrid maize variety in
Mozambique. Despite the availability of
Demonstration protocol
Demonstrations to show the potential for
maize intensification were started in
2008, targeting the use of seed varieties
and fertilizer rates that easily match
local growing conditions, farmers‟
production objectives and their capacity
to invest in seed and fertilizer. Table 2
increased to 10 sites in 2009 and 15
sites in 2010 (Table 1 and 2). The MIM
project is working directly with 253
smallholder farmers of which 35
percent are women.
Optimizing Crop Nutrition
Table 1. Sites, co-operators and farmers at the MIM project.
Province District Farmer association Project participants
Men Women Total
Sofala Gorongosa Nhauranga Farming 17 9 26
Tendeni Pabodzi 10 8 18
Nhamatanda Fambizanai 8 8 16
Luta Contra Pobreza 5 7 12
Manica Gondola 7 de Abril - Zembe 29 1 30
16 de Junho – Bengo 7 9 16
Sussundenga Matchipissa 1 0 1
Muvé 10 4 14
Manica Chinhamancungo 11 4 15
Cufuma Ichungo 4 2 6
Báruè Vila Miti 1 0 1
Tete Angónia Teguira ne Manja 10 13 23
Macanga Tithandizane 14 11 25
Muenze 16 4 20
Moatize Chiande 22 8 30
Total 3 9 15 165 88 253
Table 2. MIM demonstration protocol and factors in 2008, 2009 and 2010.
Year
2008 2009 2010
Demo trial number 5 10 15
Plot size (ha) 1 1 1
Seeds Farmer-saved seeds + + +
OPV seeds + - -
Hybrid seeds + + +
Fertilizers (kg ha-1
) NPK: 12-24-12 +6S (basal) 300 50-100 50-100
NPK: 12-24-12 +0S (basal) 300 - -
Urea (topdressing) 150 50-100 50-100
Tillage Conventional (Conv.) + + +
Conservation (Cons. + herbicide) - + +
Table 3. MIM trial treatments in 2009-2010.
Seeds Fertilizer type Fertilizer dose
Treatment
No.
Farmer-
saved seed
Hybrid
(PAN67)
Basal
N-P-K-S
12-24-12-6(S)
Top
dressing
urea
Basal
N-P-K-S
Top
dressing
urea
----------kg ha-1
----------
T1 + - - 0 0
T2 + + + 6-12-6-3 23
T3 + + + 12-24-12-6 46
T4 + - - 0 0
T5 + + + 6-12-6-3 23
T6 + + + 12-24-12-6 46
e-ifc No. 28, September 2011 11
for PAN67 and between 55,000 to
90,000 plants ha-1 for farmer-saved
seeds.
Fertilization
The NPK basal fertilizer being used was
12-24-12 +6S which is manufactured
(bulk-blended) and distributed locally.
Basal fertilizer was applied at planting
and placed 5 cm deep and 5 cm from the
seed hole and covered with soil. The top
dressing (urea 46%) was applied when
maize vegetative growth stage was at
knee height.
Analysis of soil samples from each
demonstration site was carried out in
2010 to check whether fertilization was
adequate in relation to soil nutrient
contents. Results are shown in Table 4.
Weed and pest control
Weed competition is a key issue for
maize cultivation in Mozambique
reducing yields by 25 to 85 percent.
Manual weeding is performed
approximately three times during the
period of major competition (i.e. during
the first 10 to 40 days after emergence
of the seedlings and when the weeds
compete with maize for water, nutrients,
and space). Weed control was
performed on all plots, including the
control plots, even though farmers
typically do only limited weeding.
Insect pest pressure is also very high in
Mozambique and can lead to severe
crop and grain damage, not only during
the cropping phase but also during grain
storage. Maize stalk borer and termites
are the main pests which damage maize
Research Findings
more productive improved maize
varieties, it is estimated that at least 95
percent of maize planted in
Mozambique is farmer-saved seed. It is
reported that less than one percent of
maize planted is with hybrid seed and
approximately four percent is with
certified/commercial seed of open-
pollinated varieties (OPVs).
Planting is done manually using a hand
hoe (Enxada). Due to low germination
rate, three maize seeds were placed in
each planting hole of farmer-saved
seeds and only two for the hybrid
variety. Seedlings were then thinned to
one plant per hill two weeks after plant
emergence; this thinning was not done
in the farmer-saved seed control plot
since this is local farmers‟ practice. The
planting density was 50,000 plants ha-1
Optimizing Crop Nutrition
T1 plot: Farmer-saved seeds without fertilizer. Photo by O. Goujard. T6 plot: Hybrid variety + 100 kg ha –1 fertilizer. Photo by O. Goujard.
Table 4. MIM soil sample analysis from October 2010 performed by Omnia (RSA).
Province District Association Clay Silt Sand pH (KCl) CEC P K Ca Mg
----------%---------- cmolc kg-1
---------mg kg-1
---------
Sofala Gorongosa Nhauranga 10 8 82 4.6 2.2 3 133 256 62
Tendene Pabhozi 6 9 85 4.4 4.7 69 150 593 138
Nhamatanda Fambidzai 12 23 65 4.8 10.2 11 211 1,280 387
Luta c/ Pobreza 20 34 46 4.9 16.2 10 159 2,250 519
Manica Gondola 16 de Junho 12 11 77 4.3 2.9 4 85 340 87
Zembe 7 Abril 12 19 69 4.4 2.7 5 164 294 59
Manica Chinhamacungo 10 10 80 4.2 1.7 20 84 143 24
Ifuma Ichungo 14 12 74 4.6 4.4 2 112 489 196
Sussundenga Muve 12 9 79 5.2 6.6 3 163 975 141
Matchipisse N/S N/S N/S 4.5 2.7 5 114 319 74
Catandica Viramite 10 1 89 5.7 7.1 56 111 1,140 125
Tete Macanga Titandizane 16 11 73 4.3 3.0 22 114 320 92
Muenze 8 12 80 4.5 1.6 30 79 167 35
Angonia Umodzi 8 16 76 4.8 11.0 4 158 1,300 481
Tiguirane Ne Manja 16 11 73 4.6 4.9 1 188 595 165
Zobue Antechito Achiambe 4 13 83 5.2 3.6 35 92 538 77
e-ifc No. 28, September 2011 12
Influence of soil tillage
In almost all the eight harvested sites,
the yields obtained with conservation
tillage were lower than those with
conventional tillage (Table 6). This
effect of conservation tillage in the first
year is possibly associated with
immobilization of soil nitrogen due to
addition of maize residues and sub-
optimal weed control. Past research has
shown that it can take at least three
years for the benefits of conservation to
be seen.
Influence of using improved seeds
On average, PAN67 reached only
40 percent of its yield potential
(8.0 to 9.0 mt ha-1). This yield gap can
be explained by poor rainfall
distribution, as well as poor soil fertility
conditions in farmers‟ fields. However,
conventional tillage showed higher
yields in almost all treatments when
compared with farmer-saved seeds
grown under similar conditions
(Table 7). On average amongst the
demo trials, PAN67 had a 65 percent
higher yield compared with farmer-
saved seeds.
Influence of applying fertilizer
The influence of fertilizer application
on yield can be observed by comparing
the results of the average yield per
treatment (Table 8). The application of
basal fertilizer 12-24-12 +6S (+ urea as
top dressing) boosted yield in all
treatments at the two tested doses: 50 kg
and 100 kg ha-1. Throughout the trial
locations yield increases were obtained
which were very variable: in some
places there were only limited yield
increases (+10 percent) whereas in other
sites (e.g. Sofala district), up to +200
percent yield increases were found. The
application of one fertilizer bag per
hectare (50 kg ha-1) led to a 44 percent
yield increase (+540 kg maize ha-1) over
local farmer practice (farmer-saved
seeds with conventional tillage and
no fertilizer applied). Yields were
Research Findings
plants; adequate chemical control was
conducted when required on each trial
site.
Trial results
This paper summarizes only one year of
results of the 2009-2010 season, since
the 2008-2009 protocol was different
and the 2010-2011 season results
have not yet been officially published
by IFDC.
Due to severe drought, especially during
the maize flowering growth stage, two
sites out of ten could not be harvested:
Optimizing Crop Nutrition
Nhamatanda (Sofala Province) and
Gondola (Manica Province). In general,
yield levels were lower than in the
previous year because rainfall
distribution was very erratic in early
2010 as illustrated in Table 5.
The yield data of the eight harvested
sites is shown in Fig. 1. In a year with
erratic weather conditions, yield data
ranged from 1.1 mt ha-1 to 3.3 mt ha-1.
The control plot illustrating farmer
practice in both tillage systems yielded
approximately 1.1 mt ha-1, similar to the
yield obtained for rainfed maize in
Mozambique (less than 1 mt ha-1).
Province District
(trial site)
Rainfall (mm/month) Total
January February March April May June
Manica Barue 204 496 138 162 0 0 1,001
Gondola 32 294 78 13 5.5 6 429
Manica 79 334 139 96 7 0 655
Sussundenga 17 172 168 145 10 0 513
Sofala Gorongosa 155 125 145 204 148 12 789
Nhamatanda 52 30 66 27 19 6 200
Tete Angónia 112 249 98 24 0 0 483
Macanga 32 386 159 98 7 6 689
Moatize -----------------------No data-------------------------
Tsangano -----------------------No data-------------------------
Table 5. MIM trial sites rainfall verified in 2010 (mm).
Table 6. Effect of soil tillage on maize yields in 2010 (average of
8 sites).
Treatment Average Cons. Average Conv. Cons. over Conv.
%
T1 1.11 1.18 -5.43
T2 1.55 1.71 -9.08
T3 2.1 2.28 -8.16
T4 1.67 2.05 -18.54
T5 2.69 2.98 -9.79
T6 3.11 3.34 -7.14
Average 2.04 2.26 -9.68
Fig 1. MIM overall average of maize yield in 2010.
0.00
0.50
1.00
1.50
2.00
2.50
3.00
3.50
T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6
Yie
ld
(mt
ha-1
)
Cons. Conv.
e-ifc No. 28, September 2011 13
almost doubled (+94.2 percent) with
application of two fertilizer bags
(100 kg ha-1). A similar trend was
observed for the conservation tillage +
farmer-saved seeds and hybrid variety +
Cons. or Conv. From the data obtained
soil tillage and seed quality does not
seem to have any positive or negative
cross effect with fertilization.
Economic analysis
Gross revenue
Farmers who grow maize in
Mozambique usually obtain a yield of
approximately 1.0 mt ha-1. The value of
this production varies from place to
place and also varies according to the
time of year. Grain buyers typically pay
the least for maize during the harvest
season when quantities are most
plentiful. Prices increase with time after
harvest. A value of six Meticais/kg
(6 MTs kg-1) was reported during the
time following harvest in 2010. With an
exchange rate of 37.2 MTs/USD
(August 2010; 25 MTs per USD during
the last season), the equivalent price
that could be obtained by the farmers
was USD 161.29 mt-1 of maize grain.
Gross revenue obtained in the different
treatments is described in Table 9.
Input costs
Costs of agro-inputs vary greatly from
year to year. One example regards
fertilizer: from the 2008-2009 season to
the 2009-2010 season, there was a
decrease of 60 percent for the basal
fertilizer (12-24-12 +6S) and 30 percent
decrease for the top dressing fertilizer
(urea 46 percent). The fluctuation of US
Research Findings
Optimizing Crop Nutrition
Table 8. Influence of fertilizer application on maize in the two tillage systems on yields in 2010.
Tillage Control
(no fertilizers)
50 kg NPK +
50 kg urea
100 kg NPK + 100 kg urea
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
mt ha-1
mt ha-1
Col. 3
minus
Col. 2
mt ha-1
Col. 5
minus
Col. 2
Col. 5
minus
Col. 3
% ----------%----------
Farmer-saved seeds Cons. 1.22 1.67 +36.9 2.15 +76.2 +28.7
Conv. 1.21 1.75 +44.6 2.35 +94.2 +34.3
Hybrid variety Cons. 1.55 2.75 +77.4 3.18 +105.2 +15.6
Conv. 1.92 3.04 +58.3 3.44 +79.2 +13.2
Average 1.48 2.30 +56.1 2.78 +88.5 +20.7
Table 7. Influence of seed source and nutrients in the two tillage systems on maize yields
in 2010.
Fertilizer treatment Tillage Average yield Change
in yield Farmer-saved seeds Hybrid variety
(PAN67)
---------------mt ha-1
--------------- %
Unfertilized Cons. 1.22 1.55 +36
Conv. 1.21 1.92 +61
50 kg NPK + 50 kg urea Cons. 1.67 2.75 +68
Conv. 1.75 3.04 +73
100 kg NPK + 100 kg urea Cons. 2.15 3.18 +51
Conv. 2.35 3.44 +47
Average 1.73 2.65 +65
Table 9. Economic analysis of the various treatments.
(1)1 kg of maize = 6 MTs
Treatment Tillage Average
yield
Gross
revenue(1) Input cost Gross
input
Gross
margin
Gross
margin
Maize seed
NPK 12-24-12 +6S
Urea 46%
Herbicide glyphosate
kg grain ha-1 ---------------------------------------------MTs ha-1--------------------------------------------- US$ ha-1
T1 Farmers seed with no
fertilizer
Cons. 1,114 6,683 363 0 0 2,210 2,573 4,110 110
Conv. 1,175 7,050 363 0 0 0 363 6,687 180
T2 Farmers seed with
50 kg NPKS + 50 kg
urea
Cons. 1,551 9,308 363 840 1,530 2,210 4,943 4,365 117
Conv. 1,704 10,223 363 840 1,530 0 2,733 7,490 201
T3 Farmers seed with
100 kg NPKS + 100 kg
urea
Cons. 2,094 12,563 363 1,680 3,060 2,210 7,313 5,250 141
Conv. 2,281 13,688 363 1,680 3,060 0 5,103 8,585 230
T4 Hybrid seed with no
fertilizer
Cons. 1,671 10,028 1,625 0 0 2,210 3,835 6,193 166
Conv. 2,047 12,285 1,625 0 0 0 1,625 10,660 287
T5 Hybrid seed with 50 kg
NPKS + 50 kg
urea
Cons. 2,685 16,110 1,625 840 1,530 2,210 6,205 9,905 266
Conv. 2,976 17,858 1,625 840 1,530 0 3,995 13,863 373
T6 Hybrid seed with
100 kg NPKS + 100 kg
urea
Cons. 3,102 18,615 1,625 1,680 3,060 2,210 8,575 10,040 270
Conv. 3,344 20,063 1,625 1,680 3,060 0 6,365 13,698 368
e-ifc No. 28, September 2011 14
on the rate of
conversion. Data is also
presented as a chart
(Fig. 2) so that gross
margin increase
according to input used
can be readily seen.
The highest gross
margin is obtained in
conventional tillage
(Conv.) with the two
treatments, hybrid
seeds + fertilizer: USD
373 per ha cultivated for
the 50 kg fertilizer dose (T5) and USD
368 for 100 kg fertilizer dose (T6). Here,
the yield effect of adding fertilizer
versus unfertilized T4 is outstanding but
there is no dose effect expressed.
With reference to conservative tillage
(Cons.), the dose effect between 50 kg
(T2) and 100 kg fertilizer (T3) is much
more significant.
Field days and resulting commu-
nications
During the cropping season (February to
April), farmer field days were organized
at some of the demonstration trial sites.
The objective of these days is to invite
farmers (members of a farmers‟
associations) to let them experience
first-hand the benefits of implementing
better farming practices using improved
agro-inputs, such as fertilizers or
improved seeds.
The other key objective of these days is
to establish linkages between farmers
and input/output markets.
In 2011, three sites (out of 15) were
chosen for such field days; on average
180 to 200 smallholder farmers
participated in each visit. Furthermore,
in each of the demonstration sites,
results are communicated to all the
farmers belonging to the farmers‟
associations which are partners of the
MIM project. As a result, at least 3,200
smallholder farmers were involved
directly or indirectly with MIM
demonstration trials and could benefit
from it by learning or getting in touch
with the market.
Recommendations for future activi-
ties
For forthcoming seasons, the MIM
project intends to increase the number
of demonstration plots from 15 to 30
in order to increase the rate
of dissemination of agricultural
intensification technologies. In each
district it is proposed to establish three
demonstration plots in such a way that
each demonstration field can be
considered for analytical purposes as
one replication. It is also proposed that
for each agro-climatic zone (The
Institute of Agricultural Research of
Mozambique; IIAM Classification),
fertilizer rates should be based on
official rates recommended by IIAM,
taking into account the results of
laboratory soil analysis as follows:
T1: Farmer-saved seed without
fertilizer application.
T2: Farmer-saved seed with 50% of
recommended fertilizer rate.
T3: Farmer-saved seed with 100% of
recommended fertilizer rate.
T4: Hybrid (PAN 67) without
fertilizer application.
T5: Hybrid (PAN 67) with 50% of
recommended fertilizer rate.
T6: Hybrid (PAN 67) with 100% of
recommended fertilizer rate.
Treatments 1 to 6 will be applied under
both conventional and conservation
tillage.
In addition, three full trials with
replication will be established in
cooperation with IIAM in order to
identify the response to single nutrients
(N, P and K).
Other activities to be undertaken by the
MIM project will be:
Training of agro-dealers on
agriculture technology packages and
agribusiness.
Research Findings
Optimizing Crop Nutrition
Dollar/Meticais exchange rate can also
create important variations from one
year to the next. Table 9 describes all
input costs per treatment within the
MIM protocol.
Gross margin
Gross margin calculation is obtained by
deducting cultivation cost from gross
revenue; here only input costs are
considered as a variable factor within
overall costs.
The cost of labour for managing the
multi-treatment demonstration plots are
not representative of the costs that
would normally be incurred by
smallholder farmers who would
typically cultivate one hectare of maize
and utilize family labor to the greatest
extent possible. Hand labor by family
members has low cost implications, as
opportunity costs are low. However,
fertilizer application, herbicide
application, weeding and other
cultivation features have different
labour requirements with regard to the
treatments done according to the
protocol. Furthermore, tillage can be
done mechanically, by means of animal
traction or manually by hand.
Gross margin calculation within MIM
project site conditions is described in
Table 9. The reference treatment (T1
with Conv.) which represents current
farmer practice in Mozambique gives a
benefit of 6,687 MTs ha-1 which is
worth around USD 180 ha-1, depending
Fig 2. Gross margins approach from MIM treatments in 2010
(US$/ha).
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6
Yie
ld (
mt
ha-1
)
Cons. Conv.
e-ifc No. 28, September 2011 15
Research Findings
Training of extension agents and
association members on agriculture
technology packages.
Acquisition of inputs for next
cropping season.
Selection of new associations and
new demonstration fields sites
(dependent on approval of proposal
of increased number of
demonstration sites from 15 to 30).
Strengthening the linkage with IIAM
to exchange experiences.
Facilitation of market linkages
between farmers and input suppliers
and agriculture commodities buyers
(value and supply chain).
Conclusion and recommendations
The purpose of the MIM project has
been to improve Mozambican
smallholder farmers‟ livelihoods by
intensifying maize production through
the use of quality seeds and fertilizers,
as well as by improved land
management.
The preliminary results obtained from
the 2009-2010 season from eight
demonstration trials clearly show a
significant yield increase (up to 200
percent) due to the use of NPKS
fertilizer and use of a hybrid maize seed
variety. Despite the fact that these
improved agro-inputs are costly for
local smallholder farmers, economic
analysis showed a high benefit from
their use.
Technology transfer is often a key issue
in sub-Saharan Africa and it is a key
component of the MIM project.
Education for smallholder farmers starts
with demonstrations, but farmer visits
by extension agents, and knowledge
dissemination is required as follow up.
The network created within the farmer
clusters aims to optimize exchange of
expertise and techniques.
The other focus of the MIM project is
the transition from subsistence farming
to commercial maize production and
The paper “Maize Intensification in
Mozambique: Demonstrating to
Farmers the Benefits of Better Land
and Crop Management” appears also
at:
Regional Activities/sub-Saharan Africa
marketing. The project aims to link
farmers to the value and supply chain by
initiating contacts during field days with
agro-input suppliers and maize
purchasers. The other organizations
involved (extension services, farmers
associations, development organizations
such as IFDC, AGRA) are working
together to create a dynamic
environment which strengthens the
whole maize value and supply chain in
the target areas and other areas in
Mozambique. ■
Optimizing Crop Nutrition
Farmers association meeting. Photo by O. Goujard.
Recommended